Shillong: Construction at the Umling wayside amenities project stopped two months ago. The site sits silent. Ri-Bhoi Deputy Commissioner Abhishek Saini confirmed that all laborers cleared out, leaving the project in a state of total neglect.
The Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) North Khasi Hills district unit is blocking progress. They refuse to budge until the government guarantees the facility will function primarily as a security checkpoint under the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act. The union demands the site serve to regulate state entry and intercept illegal activities like drug trafficking.
State officials argue the project serves tourism needs, housing food courts and facilitation centers. The KSU rejects these commercial additions entirely. The KSU stated, "It will not allow work to resume until the government guarantees the facility will function primarily as a security checkpoint."
District administration and Tourism department leaders held multiple meetings to break the impasse. No agreement exists. The infrastructure remains abandoned while the bureaucratic tug-of-war continues without an update.
Updated at 8th September 2026 at 2:00pm
The state government has invited the KSU to a fresh round of talks to address the ongoing standoff. Chief Secretary Shakil P. Ahammed is set to meet with the union's central executive committee on Tuesday at 4.30 pm.
The move comes as the KSU pushes for progress on five commitments made in late August. Beyond the Umling project, the union is demanding action on facilitation centres at Ratacherra and the implementation of the Migrant Workmen Act. These negotiations follow a separate three-day ultimatum issued by the union concerning recent police arrests and legal cases linked to protests in East Jaintia Hills and Shillong.
Updated at 9th September 2026 at 9:47am
The state government has overhauled its approach to the controversial Shree Cement mining project at Lum Syrman. Following intense pressure, officials confirmed that the East Jaintia Hills Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police are off the independent fact-finding committee. The government admitted that these officers will have no role, direct or indirect, in the probe of criminal and environmental concerns raised by the union.
Government lawyers informed the Meghalaya High Court that a total freeze remains on all activities at the Shree Cement site while the committee operates. The court, which is reviewing the project under a public interest litigation, expects further updates on September 29.
Negotiations between the government and the KSU regarding the Umling facility have progressed. A joint inspection of the site is set for Wednesday. State officials promised that facilitation centres and district task forces should be operational by late November or early December. The government also agreed that traditional village heads must verify tenant records, rejecting a fully automated system, and committed to stricter penalties for migrant worker violations including fines reaching Rs 50,000.
The Jaintia National Council continues to press the state for a written guarantee that all regulatory processing, including environmental clearances, remains stalled during the current inquiry. They warned that moving forward with appraisals or financial demands while the matter remains under judicial and independent review undermines the legitimacy of the entire process.
Updated at 9th September 2026 at 9:53pm
The Meghalaya High Court has set September 29 for the next hearing in the Shree Cement case, following a submission from the petitioner that included photographic evidence of alleged official lapses. While the state confirmed the plant remains shuttered during the probe, government lawyers now clarify that district officials from East Jaintia Hills will have no role, direct or indirect, in the independent panel to avoid any conflict of interest.
Labor department officials will undergo training this Wednesday on the Meghalaya Residence Safety and Security of Migrant Workers Act. The government confirmed a strict penalty schedule: Rs 10,000 for a first offense, Rs 20,000 for a second, and Rs 50,000 for subsequent violations, with jail time also on the table. New rules will also link these enforcement efforts to the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems.
The state has overhauled its hiring SOPs. Officials abolished personal interviews for Grade D posts and are currently reviewing the potential to scrap interviews for non-technical Grade B and C positions, with a decision expected within two weeks. Meanwhile, the KSU continues to block the formation of a NEIGRIHMS Governing Council until their wider grievances are addressed.
Updated at 10th September 2026 at 1:50pm
The government's retreat on the committee composition follows a meeting between Chief Secretary Shakil P. Ahammed and former KSU general secretary Donald V. Thabah. Thabah noted that the initial minutes from meetings with Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma and Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong had originally placed the East Jaintia Hills DC and SP in vital roles. He stated, "We highly objected to that," prompting the current reversal.
While the state maintains the plant is shut, the Jaintia Students Union clarified that no formal judicial stay exists on the company's operations. The current freeze rests entirely on the government's own undertaking filed before the court. The state is now tasked with providing the union with the committee member names in the coming days and formal documentation regarding previous discussions with the Chief Minister.
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